Not Again….

Supreme Court to examine constitutionality of Pledge

It seems America today will never tire of the arguments about the separation of church and state. What I really don’t understand is why Christians get so riled up over these issues. I challenge them to look around and tell me what they see — the City of God? Or Babylon? More and more, the only Christians involved in the political arena that I still respect are those fighting to change the Constitution to claim that Jesus is the head of everything. I don’t necessarily agree with their cause (generally because I think that Christians should stay out of politics, but that’s a discussion for another day), but I respect the fact that they’re going at their goal the proper way. They aren’t trying to erode bits and pieces of the government and culture, they’re attacking it head on. You know exactly where they stand, and they start with a very basic premise, which makes it easy to extrapolate their ideas on other subjects.

But I digress….

I ask that question again….where are we? The City of God or Babylon? From where I’m standing, it’s Babylon. Our country is not Christian. How about some proof, you ask. Okay, here we go….

1. We are currently involved in combat operations in several countries. While many Christians have argued a theory of just wars, it’s quite difficult to justify a war within the context of the New Testament. Again, a deeper discussion is for another day.

2. Millions of people live below the poverty level, and the government wants to scale back assistance for them (uh oh, has he gone liberal on us?).

3. The average political campaign is filled with lies and vicious attacks on other candidates.

4. I challenge anyone to call the social culture of America “Christian.”

The list could continue. Please note, this isn’t a critique of America — a *tsk, tsk* finger pointing at everything that’s wrong. It’s just an observation. Thanks to the Constitution, we are given certain liberties to do as we please, and that’s fine with me. The same Constitution that protects Hollywood’s ability to produce films with violence and sex protects my rights to worship God.

So, back to the Pledge. Why are Christians in such an uproar over a single line “one nation under God?” Why, as Christians, would we want non-Christians to be forced to say this? Christ himself said he not interested in people who went through the motions of belief and faith:


“You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of My mouth.”

Wouldn’t the government, by forcing someone who doesn’t believe in God to claim that their nation is under God, be putting God’s wrath on that person? Of course, that assumes that the people actually reciting the Pledge are paying attention to what is being said. Quick question: when was the last time you recited the Pledge? Grade school? And how many times did you earnestly recite the Pledge? When did you last _really_ mean it? Or perhaps an easier question: did you ever really mean it? It’s like the whole “In God We Trust” motto on our currency. Do you think that tears down the wall between church and state? If you do, I say take it off the currency. I say take it off the currency even you don’t. Why? Well, here’s what Jesus had to say about that (from Luke 20:21-26):

And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

So why are so intent on putting God’s name on the currency? To declare that it really belongs to God, since it’s under His power? Well, that’s redundant. God knows what’s His. Does it glorify God to have “In God We Trust” printed on our currency? Well, maybe, but does it glorify God to use that currency to buy crack? Sure, as Christians we should try and serve God in all aspects of life, but within politics many Christians are only serving their interests. They’re pushing a socially conservative agenda that aligns with Christian morality, but they’re missing something — the law isn’t going to change anyone’s heart. Wasn’t that Christ’s beef with the Jewish religious leaders? They were so focused on the law that they missed the whole point — faith in God. And so here we are again. Instead of spreading the word about Christ, they’re using the bully pulpit of legislation to make America a “Christian” nation. It’s almost as if many Christian politicians would be happy if abortion was illegal, the blue laws were re-inacted, there was a sculpture of the Ten Commandments in every public place, and kids recited the Pledge every morning, but didn’t mind that culture of America didn’t change, and not one person accepted Christ. Image is everything…..

But I’m still not convinced that Christians should bother themselves with politics. Why? Read Romans chapter 13. Now, this passage means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but when combined with the “render unto Caesar” passage, I read it as saying “don’t be too concerned with what happens in politics, unless your leaders ask you to sin.” And if you’re a faithful Christian, your government will let you be, because how they can punish someone for loving God and their neighbor? And note verses one and two:

Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.

Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.

Note, there’s no qualifiers in there. No “as long as your leader is a conservative.” No “liberals are the anti-Christ.” Authority is established by God, and therefore you should be subordinate to it. Now, in verse four there’s some talk of the “servant of God” to inflict wrath on the “evildoer.” Many theologians see this as an opening for an “avenger” — someone appointed by God to take down the evil leader. But I see it differently — God says if your leader is truly evil, He will take care of it…don’t you worry about it. And that’s how I see America today. We as Christians have the freedom to worship and live how we please. If we’re so concerned about the degradation of American culture, why aren’t we out there in the trenches doing something about it, rather than sitting on the steps of a courthouse protesting the removal of a chunk of stone or the removal of two words from an often-said but rarely thought about pledge (by the way, isn’t there something in the Bible about oaths and pledges?)?

Yeesh. That was quite a post. This isn’t a simple topic, even though a lot of people would have you believe it is. But in another sense, it is. The removal of the words “under God” in the Pledge won’t break back of Christianity. The lack of an image of the Ten Commandments in a courthouse won’t either. But we’re in trouble if Christians forget about helping those who need it (and serving Christ in the process) for political gains.